Eototo is a
Wuya, one of the major
kachina
A kachina (; Hopi language, Hopi: ''katsina'' , plural ''katsinim'' ) is a spirit being in the religious beliefs of the Pueblo people, Native Americans in the United States, Native American cultures located in the south-western part of the Unite ...
deities of the
Hopi
The Hopi are Native Americans who primarily live in northeastern Arizona. The majority are enrolled in the Hopi Tribe of Arizona and live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona; however, some Hopi people are enrolled in the Colorado ...
people and the personification of nature. He is the protagonist of the
Powamu ritual.
He is a chief and "father" of the katsinas,
["Kachina, Eototo."]
''Burke Museum.'' Retrieved 22 Jan 2012. second only to
Angwusnasomtaka
In Hopi mythology, Angwusnasomtaka, also known as Tümas, is a kachina (a spirit represented by a masked doll). She is a wuya (mythology), wuya, one of the chief kachinas and is considered the mother of all the hú and all the kachinas. During t ...
. He is similar in many ways to
Aztec god Ometeotl, and is considered the bringer of nature gifts. Eototo is said to come from the red land of the south. Every year, he travels north to bring back clouds and rain.
Eototo belongs to the Bear clan
and plays an important roles in the Powamu and Niman ceremonies on First Mesa, as reported by
Jesse Fewkes, and the Powamu on Third Mesa, as documented by H.R. Voth in his "The Oraibi Powamu Ceremony."
Eototo and Aholi appear together in major rituals on Third Mesa, while Eototo appears independently on First Mesa. Both Kachinam are wuyu or mongkatsinam (chief kachinam). A Hopi legend tells of the close relationship between the two Katsinam. While traveling together they encountered their enemy. Against an overwhelming force, Aholi stayed behind to fight, allowing Eototo to escape. Later in the era of migrations they were reunited. Well aware of Aholi’s loyalty and courage in the face of death, Eototo holds Aholi as his closest friend and ally.
[Pecina, Ron and Pecina, Bob. "Hopi Kachinas: History, Legends, and Art". Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 2013. ; pp. 40-41.]
The mask that represents Eototo is a sort of white cylinder with a nest of hair on his head. When calling upon clouds to provide rain for crops, Eototo draws cloud symbols in
cornmeal
Maize meal is a meal (coarse flour) ground from dried maize. It is a common staple food and is ground to coarse, medium, and fine consistencies, but it is not as fine as wheat flour can be.Herbst, Sharon, ''Food Lover's Companion'', Third Editi ...
on the ground.
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Notes
References
* Pecina, Ron and Pecina, Bob. ‘’Hopi Kachinas: History, Legends, and Art’’. Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 2013. ; pp. 40-41.
* Voth, H.R. ‘’The Oraibi Powamu Ceremony’’. The Stanley McCormick Hopi Expedition. Field Columbian Museum, Anthropological series; vol.3 no.2. (Chicago, IL: Field Columbian Museum, 1901).
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Hopi mythology